Acceleration control device



J1me 1965 G. P. SCHIVLEY, JR 3,191,404

ACCELERATION CONTROL DEVICE Filed April 16, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

GE R .SCHIVLE), JR.

r I u ATTOR Y a I G June 1965 a. P. SCHIVLEY, JR 3,191,404

ACCELERATION CONTROL DEVICE Filed April 16, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR GEORGgt SCH/VLE Y, JR.

TTORNE June 29, 1965 a. P. SCHIVLEY, JR 3,191,404

ACCELERATION CONTROL DEVICE Filed April 16, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet s FROM COMPRESSED FLUID SUPPLY INVENTOR.

GEORGE R SCH/VLF), JR.

BY I "& v4-

ATTORN June 29, 1965 G. P. SCHIVLEY, JR

ACCELERATION CONTROL DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 16, 1963 hy/M INVENTOR GEORGE E SCH/VLEY, JR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent ACCELERATION CONTRGL DEVICE George P. Schivley, Jr., Bethlehem, Pa., assignor to Ingersoll-Raud Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed'Apr. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 273,377

' Claims. (Cl. 64-26) D. K. Skoog; U.S. Patent No. 3,116,617, issued January 7, 1964 to D. K. Skoog; Serial #244,151, filed Dec. 12, 1962, by D. K. Skoog, et al., all asigned to the same assignee as the present application. Impulse tools of this type have been used both as an impulse wrench and as a source of fluid impulses for driving conventional rotary or reciprocating power tools.

Such conventional impulse tools are limited in impulse horsepower and ultimate torque to the speed which the impulse tool can achieve in one revolution, which speed in turn is limited by the air supply pressure and air motor output. In order to remedy this situation, use of a physically larger air motor is not acceptable from the commercial standpoint due to size, weight and cost.

Heretofore it has been known as shown in U.S. Patent #2,888,246 issued May 26, 1959 to C. B. Sieber to use a hydraulically operated impact tool wherein'as the speed of a wheel increases the centrifugal force pushes an impact head outwardly into impact position and a blow is delivered by the impact head to an anvil.

In U.S. Patent #3,0=33,236 issued May 8, 1962 to G. E. Rayman et al., a pneumatic impact tool builds up pressure before the impact head acts.

U.S. Patent 2,884,902 issued May 5, 1959 to W. W. Headings shows a hydraulically operated nut wrench having a valve structure. U.S. Patent 2,808,033 issued October 1, 1957 to J. J. Geier et al., discloses an impact tool for tightening threaded fasteners, which impact tool is fluid operated. U.S. Patent #2,632,424 issued March 24, 1953 to J. J. Slomer shows a hydraulically operated device which has a neutral or by-pass position.

It is the general object of the present invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difiiculties of and objections to prior art practices by the provision of an acceleration control device for an impulse tool, which acceleration control device permits the impulse tool to revolve through a plurality of revolutions before the first impulse occurs thereby providing a higher speed level with attendant increase in impulse horsepower and ultimate torque.

The aforesaid objects of the present invention, and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by providing an improved acceleration control device for an impulse tool having housing means provided with cavity means adapted to contain a fluid, spindle means in the housing means and in the fluid, drive means operatively associated with one of the housing means and the spindle means for causing relative rotary movement about an axis between the housing means and the spindle means, the other of the housing means and the spindle means being adapted to dynamically seal off the cavity into a high pressure portion and a low pressure portion. The acceleration control device is connected to the one and has the one provided with passage means communicating between the high pressure portion and the low pressure portion. An operating member has its center of gravity offset from the 3,191,404 Patented June 29, 1965 axis and is reciprocable in the one across the passage means from an open position to a closed position. Biasing means are operatively associated with the operating member to hold the operating member in the open position until a predetermined speed of the one is reached. The operating member is operable by predetermined centrifugal force at the predetermined speed to move to the closed position thereby shutting olf the passage means and permittin impulsing of the tool.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an impulse tool incorporating the acceleration control device of the present invention and showing the acceleration control device connected to the housing means;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view along the line 22 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view along the line 33 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows and showing the biasing means within the operating member, and the operating member in the open position;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal fragmentary sectional view along the' line 4-4 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows showing the passage means and operating member;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the operating member in the closed position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the biasing means on the outside of said operating member;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 6- showing an air spring biasing means;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the acceleration control device connected to the spindle means;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8 in the direction of the arrows showing the spindle, spindle blade, cavity in the inner housing and the by-pass apertures.

Although the principles of the present invention are broadly applicable to impulse tools in general utilized both as impulse wrenches and as sources of fluid impulses, the present invention is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with impulse wrenches and hence it has been so illustrated and will be so described.

With specific reference to the form of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, and referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, an impulse tool of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. patent applications Serial #115,714, #158,838 and #244,151 is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10.

Since the impulse tool 10 per se forms no part of the present invention, it is deemed sufiicient to say that such impulse tool 10 (FIG. 1) has a housing means, such as the inner housing 12, FIGS. 1 and 2, provided with a center of rotation 14 (FIGS. 25). This inner housing 12 is rotatable within a casing means, such as an outer casing 15 (FIGS. 1, 2), by drive means, such as an air motor -17 (FIG. 1) or the like, the air motor 17 being connected to the inner housing 12 by means of a splined connection 15a (FIG. 3). The inner housing 12 is provided with a cavity means, such as the eccentric cavity 16 (FIG. 2), having its center at 18 (FIG. 2) and containing a fluid, such as oil F. The impulse tool 10 has a spindle means, such as a spindle 20 (FIGS. l-3), rotatably mounted in the inner housing 12 to permit relative rotative movement between the inner housing 12 and the spindle 20. The center of rotative movement of the spindleZtl is the hereinbefore mentioned center 14 of the inner housing 12.

Operation The spindle 20 is operable during a relatively small portion of each revolution of the relative rotary movement between the inner housing 12 and spindle 20 to dynamically seal off a portion of the fluid F into a high pressure portion HP (FIG. 2) and a low pressure portion LP so that the pressure in the high pressure portion HP and on the spindle 20 increases thereby causing the spindle 20 to rotate with respect to the inner housing 12 and to apply a torque to an object, such as a nut (not shown). The sealing is accomplished by the lands between bypass slots 26 in the inner housing 12 and the spindle blade 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the spindle 21) carries a through type spindle blade 22 provided with a by-pass slot 24. The inner housing 12 is provided (FIG. 2) with by-pass slots 26. r

The acceleration control device 30 (FIGS. 3, of the present invention is contained Within an end cap 32 (FIGS. 1, 3-5) of the inner housing 12. The end cap 32 is secured by screws 34 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 5) and O-rings 36 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 5) tothe inner housing 12. The spindle I20 rotates in a socket 37 (FIGS. 3 and 5) in the end cap 32.

Acceleration control device This acceleration control device 30 has passage means (such as the by-pass apertures .38 (FIGS. 2-5) which converge into operating member aperture 40 (FIGS. 35) provided in the end cap 32 and communicating between high pressure portion HP and low pressure portion LP of the cavity 16. An operating member, such as the centrifugal plug 42 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 has its center of gravity 44 (FIGS. 3, S) offset from the axis of rotation (or center 14) of the inner housing 14 and is reciprocable in the operating member aperture 40 across the by-pass apertures 38 from an open position (FIG. 3) to a closed position (FIG. 5). Biasing means, such as a spring 46 (FIGS. 35), are disposed in a communicating aperture 48 (FIGS. 3-5) in the centrifugal plug 42, and hold the centrifugal plug 42 in the open position (FIG. 3) until a predetermined speed of the inner housing 12 is reached. The centrifugal plug 42is operable by predetermined centrifugal force at this predetermined speed to move to the closed position (FIG. 5) thereby shutting off the by-pass apertures 38 and permitting impulsing thereafter of the impulse tool 10. While the centrifugal plug 42 is in the open position (FIG. 3) no impulsing of the impulse tool will occur.

Alternative embodiments It will be understood by those skilled in the art that alternatively as shown in FIG. 6 the biasing means may comprise a spring 46 disposed in a spring slot 543 about the centrifugal plug 42 In FIG. 7 the slots 50 form a trapped airpocket or airspring and are connected by a feed aperture 52 in end cap 332' and a feed aperture 54 in a drive shaft 56 of the air motor 17 to a compressed fluid supply (not shown) such as a compressed air or liquid (i.e.) supply. The slot 50 is sealed by suitable means, such as O-rings 58.

Referring now to FIGS. 8, 9 the acceleration control device 30 in the end cap 32 is connected by a key connection 6% (FIG. 9) to the spindle shaft 62. The by-pass apertures 38 are connected to feed apertures 64 which feed apertures 64 then communicate with the high pressure portion HP (FIG. 9) and low pressure portion LP of the cavity 18 The predetermined speed at which the acceleration control device 36 cuts off the passage means (i.e. by-pass apertures 38, FIGS. 3 and 5) may be determined by selecting the proper spring 46 or by a control means 66 which comprises a screw 68 carrying a plate 70 and threadable into the end cap 32. Increased compression of the plate 70 on the spring 46 increases the predetermined speed of cut off.

It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the objects of the present invention have been achieved by providing an improved acceleration control device for an impulse tool, which device permits the impulse tool to revolve through a plurality of revolutions before the first impulse occurs thereby providing a higher speed level with attendant increase in impulse horsepower and ultimate torque.

While in accordance with the patent statutes a preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby.

I claim:

1. In an impulse tool having housing means provided with a cavity adapted to contain a fluid, spindle means in said housing means and the fluid, drive means operatively associated with one of said housing and spindle means for causing relative rotary movement about an axis between said housing and spindle means, the other of said housing and spindle means being adapted to dynamically seal said cavity into a high pressure portion and a low pressure portion, and an acceleration control device comprising:

(a) said one of said housing and spindle means being provided with passage means in communication with said high and low pressure portions of said cavity,

(b) an operating member with its center of gravity offset from the axis of rotation of said housing and spindle means, and beingreciprocal in said one of said housing and spindle means acrosssaid passage means between an open position and a closed position,

(c) biasing means operatively associated with said operating member to hold said operating member in said open position until said one of said housing and spindle means is rotating at a predetermined speed, and

(d) said operating member being operated against the biasing means by centrifugal force at the predetermined speed to move from said open position to said closed position thereby blocking said passage means and permitting impulsing of said tool.

2. The acceleration control device recited in claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring disposed within said operating member.

3. The acceleration control device recited in claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring disposed about said operating member.

4. The acceleration control device recited in claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises an air spring.

' 5. The acceleration control device recited in claim 1 having control means associated with said biasing means for determining said predetermined speed and said predetermined centrifugal force.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 25,210 7/62 Jackson 13756 1,714,652 5/29 Wingquist 192-58 2,326,347 8/43 Forss 192.033 2,733,794 2/56 Reid 19258 3,116,617 1/64 S'koog 19258 X DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN IMPULSE TOOL HAVING HOUSING MEANS PROVIDED WITH A CAVITY ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A FLUID, SPINDLE MEANS IN SAID HOUSING MEANS AND THE FLUID, DRIVE MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF SAID HOUSING AND SPINDLE MEANS FOR CAUSING RELATIVE ROTARY MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS BETWEEN SAID HOUSING AND SPINDLE MEANS, THE OTHER OF SAID HOUSING AND SPINDLE MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO DYNAMICALLY SEAL SAID CAVITY INTO A HIGH PRESSURE PORTION AND A LOW PRESSURE PORTION, AND AN ACCELERATION CONTROL DEVICE COMPRISING: (A) SAID ONE OF SAID HOUSING AND SPINDLE MEANS BEIN G PROVIDED WITH PASSAGE MEANS IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID HIGH AND LOW PRESSURE PORTIONS OF SAID CAVITY, NB) AN OPERATING MEMBER WITH ITS CENTER OF GRAVITY OFFSET FROM THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID HOUSING AND SPINDLE MEANS, AND BEING RECIPROCAL IN SAID ONE OF SAID HOUSING AND SPINDLE MEANS ACROSS SAID PASSAGE 